Report a pothole or surface defect on a road or pavement

Last updated: 6 March 2024

Please tell us:

  • where the pothole is, including the street name and nearest house number. Alternatively, you could provide another reference point, such as the distance from a junction or number on the nearest lamp column​)
  • roughly how long, wide, and deep the pothole is

What happens next?

A highway supervisor will visit the site to check the pothole's size, depth, location, and likely risk to pedestrians and road users. They will prioritise the repair as follows:

  • we'll try an fix the highest risk potholes within 24 hours
  • for lesser risk potholes we'll usually fix it within seven days
  • we'll repair the rest within six weeks, by routine patching works or through our planned highways maintenance programme

How do I claim for damage or injury?

You can make a claim for damage or injury due to a pothole or defect on the surface of the road or pavement.

To make a claim, you will need to first report the pothole using the report a pothole online form. 

What will happen after I've submitted the report?

Once you've submitted the report, we'll send you an email to let you know that a claim form is being sent to you.

If you haven't received the claim form within 10 days, please email the address given in your acknowledgment email. 

Please note, we may supply the information you provide to our insurers.

They will pass your information to these agencies for checking and to prevent fraudulent claims:

  • Claims and Underwriting Exchange Register, run by Insurance Database Services Limited
  • Motor Insurance Anti Fraud and Theft Register, run by the Association of British Insurers